From City Streets to Fantasy Worlds: My Journey with Travel and Pokerogue

Travel has always been my favorite way to escape the routine. From wandering through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, hiking misty trails in the Pacific Northwest, to spending slow afternoons in a cozy café in Paris, each journey feels like another page in my adventure book.

But here’s the twist: not all of my adventures take place in the real world. Some of them unfold in virtual ones.

One rainy afternoon in Kyoto, I stumbled upon Pokerogue, a fascinating game that combines the unpredictable spirit of roguelike adventures with the strategic depth of Pokémon. What amazed me most was how much it resembled real travel—the excitement of the unknown, the joy of discovery, and the thrill of encountering something rare and unforgettable.

In Pokerogue, no two runs are ever the same. Every playthrough brings unexpected encounters, just like my backpacking trip through Europe, where each day held surprises: stumbling into a hidden alley in Venice, catching an impromptu jazz performance in Berlin, or hopping on a last-minute train to a town I had never heard of. In both travel and Pokerogue, curiosity and flexibility are your best allies.

Here’s a little travel tip: allow yourself some “controlled randomness.” Take the longer path, follow the sound of street music, or strike up a conversation with a stranger at a café. Much like in Pokerogue, it’s often the spontaneous choices that lead to the most memorable stories.

As I look ahead to my next adventure, I know I’ll keep seeking experiences in both worlds—the physical and the digital. After all, whether you’re boarding a plane or starting a new game run, the true magic lies in not knowing what’s waiting just around the corner.